house Bill H.R. 256

Should the Treasury Accept Private Donations to Build the Border Wall?

Argument in favor

Given Democrats’ staunch opposition to the wall, it’s unlikely that federal funding for the border wall will materialize. Private donations to this key Trump administration priority will allow the wall’s construction without taxpayer dollars, saving the government money and securing the border.

Argument opposed

The border wall is opposed by many Americans and negatively impacts the environment and endangered species along the U.S.-Mexico border. Crowdfunding for federal priorities is a bad idea because it opens the government to private influence and lets Congress accomplish goals outside the appropriations process.

Bill Data

What is House Bill H.R. 256?

This bill, the People's Border Wall Fund Act, would allow the Treasury Secretary to accept public donations to fund the construction of a barrier on the U.S.-Mexico border. The Treasury Secretary would be responsible for establishing an account, to be known as the “Border Wall Trust Fund,” to receive money for the border wall and create a publicly accessible website for people to donate to the Border Wall Trust Fund.

The Treasury Secretary would also be charged with: 1) providing public outreach to educate the public about the Border Wall Fund’s existence and 2) posting a public notice on the Treasury Dept. website letting the public know how much money is in the Fund, and how much money has been donated to the Fund over time.

Money deposited in the Border Wall Trust Fund would be appropriated to the Homeland Security Secretary, and could be used to plan, design, construct, or maintain a barrier along the international border between the U.S. and Mexico. It wouldn’t be usable for any other purposes.

“For too long, illegal drugs, guns and criminals have poured over our unsecure Southern border. Concerned Wisconsinites frequently ask me if there is a way they can personally contribute to the funding of a border wall. As it stands now, there isn’t. That’s why I am proud to answer the call of Wisconsinites in the Sixth District and introduce this bill that will fulfill their request to strengthen national security.”

“Debates about the border wall typically focus on immigration, economics and national security, but the harm to Americans’ natural heritage is an outcome rarely discussed. Do we really want to trade our natural heritage for national security?”

“Some worry that the ability to donate privately to such a federal project would primarily serve as a way for individuals or corporations to buy political influence, especially in this case with the White House or Republican members of Congress. Federal government projects are nearly always funded entirely publicly, for the reason that contributions from the public en masse not only provide more of an 'all in' approach, but also help prevent nepotism or favoritism in the process.”

Nearly identical legislation was introduced in the previous Congress. The Buy a Brick, Build the Wall Act, sponsored by Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH), had the support of two Republican cosponsors, and died without receiving a committee vote. The Border Wall Trust Fund Act, sponsored by Rep. Diane Black (R-TN), had the support of 11 Republican cosponsors and also died without receiving a committee vote.